Sign



April 11, 1944- c. A. JoHNsoN 2,346,260

SIGN

' Filed sept. 3,' 1 941 [y/yforla/nsozz Patented Apr'. 11, 1944 UNITED sureste SIGN Clifford AL Johnson, La Crosse, Wis.l Application September 3, 1941, Serial No. 409,409

3 claims. (ci. 40-125) 4 This invention relates tothe class of signs and pertains particularly to an improved sign structure of a character wherein letters or other symbols forming a part thereof are intended to be illuminated from behind.

The primary object of the present invention is;

to provide a novel sign structure wherein a solid opaque body has secured in openings therein-letters or other characters in such a mannerA that such characters become locked or Xed in position so that they become an integral part of the opaque body of the sign without the use of fastening devices of any character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sign structure in which letters or other characters of a translucent nature capable of being illuminated from behind, are fixed in openings in an opaque supporting body by forcing the material of the letter or other character through the opening from one side of the carrier body and expanding the letter or character beyond the dimensions of the opening upon the side of the carrier opposite from the side from which the material is moved whereby the material of the character will have portions on both sides of the carrier in locking engagement with the edge of the opening whereby the entire character is firmly locked in position.

The invention Will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the carrier plate showing the openings for receiving the design forming material,

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I generally designates a plate of opaque material or other body which forms the support or carrier for the letters or other characters of the sign. If the sign is to be one having letters or numerals, the body I is provided with the cut-out spaces or openings 2 corresponding in outline with the letter, numeral or other character to be displayed. In the illustration here given of a body I having the letters g-e--r it will be seen that the carrier I has the openings 2 cut in the shape or the outline of these letters.y The letters gand 4e have central open portions which must be` blanked out or provided with opaque fillers, and these fillers which are'indicated by the numeral 3, are in thelforrn of sections of the proper shape, of the body I. This body or carrieris hereshown as beingin the form of a relatively thick metal plate andthe fillout portions -3 which areto outline the open centers of the letters are of the same material and yare disposed in the plane of the plate in the nnished sign as shown in Fig. 3.

The letters which are indicated by the numeral 4 are formed of a translucent thermoplastic material which is applied as a sheet to one side of the metallic carrier plate I, the sheet of thermoplastic material being indicated generally by the numeral 5. After the sheet or body of thermoplastic material is placed against the said one side of the plate I, it is forced under heat and pressure through the openings 2 and caused to expand or bulge beyond the dimensions of the openings as indicated at 6 on the side of the plate opposite from the side against which the sheet 5 was initially placed. Thus it Will be seen that after the letter, character or design has been formed by the procedure of forcing the thermoplastic material through the cut-out in the plate, it will have a width upon one side of the opening greater than the width of the opening and it will be integral with the sheet from which it Was forced, which is disposed upon the opposite side of the plate and consequently, the letter, character or design will be firmly locked in the opening of the opaque carrier plate.

It will, of course, be understood that where letters or other designs are formed which have open portions such as the letter g or the letter e here shown, or the letters a, d, o, p, etc., the fillout portions 3 of the plate will be placed and held in the opening through which the material is forced, in the proper position to be encircled and gripped by the material after it is forced through the opening and expands to take its shape upon the opposite side of the carrier plate from the side upon which the sheet 5 is initially disposed. ThusI the opaque lill-out portion 3 will be securely locked in the design and when an illuminating means is placed behind the carrier plate, the illumination will pass only through the portion or portions of the letters or designs which are not covered by the opaque plate material.

The present application is directed to the sign structure and while the process or method by which it is formed has been to a certain extent herein set forth, the full method together with the mechanism for carrying out the same has not been disclosed as this is to form the subject-matter of a separate patent application.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been herein set forth a novel sign construction or means of securing to a suitable supporting plate or body, design elements, in such manner that the elements are iirmly secured or locked to the carrier plate Without the employment of fastening elements of any character. It will also be readily apparent that a sign constructed in accordance with the present ,g

invention is particularly well adapted to be illuminated from the rear since the thermoplastic material of which the characters are formed may be in the form of Celluloid or any one of the numerous synthetic resins which are at present in commercial use and which readily respond to heat and pressure and are capable of taking various pigments. The body l may form merely a plaque behind which an illuminating bodymay be placed or it may form a Wall of an illuminated box or housing.

What is claimed is:

l. A structure of the general character stated, comprising a plate body having an opening therein and a sheet of moldable material disposed against one side face of the plate and having a portion thereof extended as a hollow protuberance through said opening and enlarged upon the other side face of the plate beyond the dimensions of the opening whereby the enlarged extended portion coacts with the portion of the sheet upon the said one side face of the plate to form a locking connection with the edge of the opening to maintain the sheet and plate in joined relation.

2. A structure of the character stated, comprising a plate having formed therethrough an opening of a predetermined design and a sheet of thermoplastic material disposed against one side of the plate and having a portion extended through the opening beyond the opposite side of the plate, the said extended portion of the sheet forming a hollow protuberance having a contour corresponding with the design of the opening and being extended beyond the edges of the opening to have a width upon the said other side of the sheet greater than the width of the opening whereby the sheet and the extended hollow protuberance having the design of the opening are locked to the plate.

3. A display structure, comprising a plate having an opening formed therein in the design of the display and a hollow display element formed of thermoplastic sheet material having the shape of and xed in the said opening and standing out from one side of the plate, the element at the said one side of the plate being widened in the plane of the said side beyond the edge of the opening and having an integral portion lying against the opposite side of the plate whereby the element is locked in said opening.

CLIFFORD A. JOHNSON. 

